Sunday Racing Picks: Aqueduct

It’s Super Bowl Sunday, so enjoy all the pre-game hype and the game itself.  To feed your appetite prior, we turn our attention to Aqueduct in New York as we focus on the $100,000 Busanda Stakes for 3-year-old fillies over 1 1/8 miles on the dirt with Kentucky Oaks implications on the line.

The top four finishers of the Busanda earn qualifying points (10-4-2-1) to the Friday, May 1 Kentucky Oaks.

The field of 7 will go to gate for race 7 on the 8-race card with an approximate post time of 4:25 p.m. ET.

#7, Fiftyshays Ofgreen, Kendrick Carmouche, 4-1

She has finished in-the-money in all four of her career starts (1-1-2) and is coming off a triumph by 2 ½ lengths over today’s entrant Persisto in a maiden special weight race at Monmouth Park on Oct. 13. A daughter of Bernardini, she worked one mile on Jan. 22 and posted 1:43 in prep work at Parx Racing for today. Kendrick Carmouche had the whip then and gets it back today for trainer John Servis. The pick.

#6, Harvey’s Lil Goil, Junior Alvarado, 2-1

The daughter of American Pharaoh and morning-line favorite has had two career starts (both at Aqueduct), highlighted by a whopping six-length win as the second choice in his last over today’s entrant Persisto in a maiden special weight race on Dec. 12. Junior Alvarado has the mount for trainer Bill Mott.  Runner-up.

#4, Persisto, Dylan Davis, 4-1

She has certainly been persistent, finishing in-the-money in all four of her career starts (1-2-1), including her last winning by 1 ¾ lengths as the favorite in a maiden special weight race here on Jan. 10. Dylan Davis was aboard then and is back on today for trainer Kelly Breen. Don’t be surprised if she steals this. Contender.

#1, Water White, Jorge Vargas, Jr., 5-2

Today’s second choice is coming off her first graded stakes appearance, where she finished fifth here in the Grade 2 Demoiselle Stakes on Dec. 7. Entering that race, she was coming off a head victory as the favorite in a maiden special weight race at The Big A on Nov. 15. Let’s see if she can revert back to her old form prior to her last. Jorge Vargas, Jr. has the mount for trainer Rudy Rodriguez. In the mix.

PICKS: 7-6-4-1

By Lou Monaco